Huizener Straße. 1
61118 Bad Vilbel
Frankfurt
Germany
Ground Number: 1474
Friday 12th September 2025
FV Bad Vilbel 4-5 SC Dortelweil II
Friday 12th September 2025
FV Bad Vilbel 4-5 SC Dortelweil II
Kriesoberliga Freidberg
FV BAD VILBEL - A BRIEF HISTORY
The club was established in March 1919 and started in the District Leagues the following season. They won the title in 1929, and four years later, they merged with FG Phönix Bad Vilbel in 1933 to become FC Phönix Bad Vilbel. A second district class title followed in 1939 before World War 2 interrupted. In 1967, they were B-Class Obertaunus/Usingen champions. Further title wins came in 1971 with the B-Class Frankfurt/East and 1974 with the A-Class. In 1987, they won the District class Frankfurt/West. Big progress came in 1992 with the Landesliga Süd title and promotion to the Oberliga Hessen, which sits at the fifth level of German Football. Their best-ever finish came in 2000 when FV Bad Vilbel finished 3rd. Their fifteen-year run at that level came to an end in 2007 when they were relegated to the Landesliga Süd. Another championship and promotion came in 2017, with relegation following in 2022. The decline did not stop, with a further relegation to the Verbandsliga Hessen-Süd in 2023. After a couple of seasons in the Gruppenliga Frankfurt West, FV Bad Vilbel were relegated to the Kreisoberliga Friedberg, which sits at the eighth level of German Football.
The 62nd Hessentag, the largest and oldest state festival in Germany, was held in Bad Vilbel from 13 to 22 June 2025, under the motto "Wir bringen Hessen auf die Bühne" ("We bring Hesse onto the stage"). Originally planned for 2020 but cancelled due to the COVID‑19 pandemic, Bad Vilbel hosted the event for the first time in 2025. English electronic music duo Autechre released a song entitled Second Bad Vilbel on their EP Anvil Vapre. The title derives from the town's twinning with Glossop, an area the group would have passed en route to Sheffield, from their homes in Rochdale. Jürgen Sparwasser (born 1948), is a retired German football player and later briefly a football manager living in Bad Vilbel. He gained fame as an East German football player at the 1974 FIFA World Cup finals, where he scored the winning goal in a politically prestigious match against West Germany.
MY VISIT
This revisit to Frankfurt had been nine years in the making, having had a great time back in 2016. I was a lot better at groundhopping now, thanks in no small part to the Futbology App. Smartphone technology, more specifically the network, had also taken a significant leap forward during that time. I'd have none of the issues with data and finding where I was, unlike last time. The weather also looked like it would be a lot better, too, no snow this time. It was the bad weather and the lack of communication from the club that led to my diverting to Offenbach Kickers. After much digging, it proved to be a wise decision as Bad Vilbel had no result recorded for that weekend. This time, their website helped with their history and the Fussball.DE app and website helped with confirming the fixture.
From our game at North Kilworth, Colin and I left with an ETA of 11. It was all going swimmingly until we got to the M1 near Hemel. As usual, it was a farce and added half an hour to the trip and no sign of any actual work being done. There was even a bump in the melee and it was surprising how much damage could be done at such a slow pace. The couple of minutes added on by the loathsome Cadent was small fry compared to this. I dropped Colin off at 11.30 and got home fifteen minutes later. Despite getting into bed shortly after midnight, it took me a couple of hours to drop off. Of course, I felt it the next day, but not at first. Mid-morning, it really started to drag, and I was counting down the minutes until time, with the clock obstinately slow. It eventually came, and I could enjoy twelve days' parole from work. The afternoon was spent making the final preparations for my trip away. I opted against an afternoon nap in favour of an early night after I felt a lot better after escaping the gulag. I was in bed at 7 and asleep before 8, waking a couple of times and around ten minutes before my 4.50 alarm.
I got ready and had breakfast before leaving at 5.25. It was a pleasant walk to town, and aside from a lady walking her dog, I didn't see a soul until I got to town. I fancied a drink and snac,k but the small Tesco didn't open until 7. By that time, I was on the bus, which left five minutes later at the bargain fare of £3. There were plenty of delays with it being rush hour, though. In the end, the bus was half an hour late, and then there was a knackered escalator, meaning that everyone had to squeeze into a few small lifts. Security was a breeze, but there was disappointment waiting for me on the other side. First of all, the pitiful selection of places for a pre-match pint and then the news that my planned game at Ibrox for Rangers Women had been moved to another ground that I'd already been to. I forewent my pre-match drink in favour of a meal deal at WH Smith, which at least filled a gap. It was soon time to go to gate A19 and board the Lufthansa to Frankfurt. It was a full plane and we were ten minutes taking off, but soon we were on our way. It was a decent enough flight, with a free posh chocolate and a bottle of water. Whilst we were waiting to get off, I got my train ticket, which also included tonight's travel for £11.65. Considering it was €10.70 for the subway day ticket alone, I was pleased with that.
Into Frankfurt was a ten minute wait and a fifteen minute train. I tried to get some cash out for the football but the cash machine took about two minutes to identify my card. After that, all trust was lost, so I just got it back and decided to wait until later. From there, it was to the nearest big supermarket. Tegut was excellent. I got three different litre bottles of Apfelwein, three bakery items, a bag of crisps, some chocolate crispy biscuits and some grapes for a little over £15. It was under ten minutes to my room, where I checked in, unpacked, had a drink and relaxed. As it had been a long day, I also had a shower to freshen up. There is always something I forget and on this occasion, it turned out to be a toothbrush. Thankfully, something easy enough to pick up when the opportunity arises. The rest of the afternoon was spent having one of my Apfelwein bottles, writing my blog and catching up on Corrie on the ITV player. Going out at 5.15, cash was procured. Trains were not as per schedule, and so I had a longer-than-expected wait for the S6 to Bad Vilbel. Eventually, it came and I was on my way to Bad Vilbel Sud with a 14-minute delay. I chose to eat in the club restaurant. Double Mexico Schnitzel, chips and two pints of Apfelwein cost me just over £25. I was absolutely stuffed and should have gone for the single. I went in, getting entry and a pennant for €13. I also talked to someone else who had checked in on Futbology and who had just come from the Czech Republic.
FV Bad Vilbel were 2nd in the league, behind Türk Gücü Friedberg II. They had won four and drawn two of their games so far. Last time, they drew 3-3 at FC Ober-Rosbach. SC Dortelweil II were the reserves side of SC Dortelweil of the Verbandsliga Hessen Staffel Sud, which is the sixth tier of German football. They were 12th, having won two and lost four of their games so far. Last time out, they lost 3-2 to FC Karben II and were located just over 5km north of Bad Vilbel, albeit they were actually part of the wider area. Bad Vilbel started on top but on 14 minutes, Dortelweil took the lead, a corner from the left and a header from Josip Martin. The lead was doubled on 18 minutes, Nico Gasche capitalising on some dodgy defending. A free kick from Leon Gallm made it 3-0 on 23 minutes before Gasch made it 4-0 past a shellshocked home defence a minute later. A shock result carried on to half-time, and despite some Bad Vilbel pressure, they never threatened to score. The visitors made it 5-0 on the break on 58 minutes as Julian Vespermann slotted into the bottom right-hand corner from the edge of the area. Hakki Arikaya scored Bad Vilbel's first on the hour, but I didn't witness it. The hosts pulled another one back on 72 minutes when the visiting keeper blasted a clearance straight into a home player. The ball fell into the path of Mohammed Touri, who had a simple job to finish ro make it 2-5. Touri got his second, making it 3-5 on 78 with a powerful run and finish. The hosts then thumped the left-hand post with five minutes to go in what was becoming a great game. A brilliant free kick made it 4-5 on 89 minutes, Denis Crnovrsanin the scorer. I somehow managed to mess up filming it thanks to fat thumbs. There was no crazy comeback despite a couple of late chances, but a draw would have been a fair result.
THE GROUND
NIDDA SPORTSFELD is a brilliant setup with a terrace running along one side, providing plenty of standing space. The centre of this has some cover, at a push, a few hundred could stay dry, and there is some benches too. The turnstile has scarves, pennants and other bits for sale, plus you get a paper ticket for the bargain €3 entry. There is a bar and a BBQ with bratwurst, too. Behind the goal is the excellent Niddafeld Schnitzelhouse, which does food in huge portions at a fair price. It also has a good range of drinks and is well worth a visit. Bad Vilbel Sud or South train station is less than ten minutes away, providing connections to Frankfurt. There is also a decent amount of parking on the adjacent streets.
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